This weekend saw Cardiff host the BUCS Cross Country Championships on Saturday 1st February. Blackburn Harriers Isabel Holt, Tanith-Jade Ellis and Dexta Thompson all competed for their respective University teams – Isabel running for Leeds in the in the Long Course whilst Tanith-Jade ran in the Women’s Short Course Race for Manchester as Dexta ran in the Men’s Short Course Race ran for Loughborough. The Women’s Long Course race was over 8.21km and what a result for Isabel as she came home in 9th place out of a field of one hundred and sixty one athletes, with a time of 27.56 – the race being won by Jess Bailey. Isabel was very happy with her run, telling the Club that she “Had such a fun experience at my first BUCS race and really pleased to come away with 9th in the women’s A race. I enjoyed racing further than usual on the cross and I’m excited for the next year.” Next up for Isabel is the Home International Cross Country Match where she races for England at Temple Newsam in Leeds next weekend. The Men’s Short Course Race featured seven hundred and sixty three athletes, a race won by Jack Small in a time of 24.18 for the 8.21km course. Dexta had a fine run, coming off the back of an illness as he placed 18th overall in a time of 24. 57.Tanith running for Manchester University came 367th in a time of 25.02 for the 5.59k distance.
(RESULTS)
Isabel Holt
Dexta Thompson (1153)
Tanith-Jade Ellis (1313)
Still on cross country and this time at the Lancashire Schools Cross Country Championships held at Witton Park on Saturday February 1st on a sunny but chilly day and almost perfect from cross country racing. The Schools Championships do not include the famour Saucer on any of the courses, the laps being on the main Showfield and up past the track. Blackbuen Harriers had 38 runners out on the day competing for their town schools, with Juniors, Inter’s and Seniors all looking to take one of the places for the English Schools Championships being held on March 15 with eleven Harriers looking as though they will be selected to run at the national Championships. (RESULTS)
All Lancashire Schools XC Champs Photos on Blackburn Harriers Facebook Page – HERE
First race of the day was low on numbers as the senior Boys and Senior Girls combined only had 17 athletes in it – 11 Boys and six girls. Matthew Clark won the Boys race and Alicia Tomlinson the Girls race. In the boys race Blackburn Harriers athletes took 3rd (Oliver Gill), 5th (Ben Stratton), 6th (Daniel Smith), 8th (Ethan Cutler) and 9th (Logan McCredie). Charlotte Robertshaw took 5th place in the Grils race. Sixty six runners in the Year 7 race which was good to see even though this age group doesn’t compete for selection to Englaish Schools – the Harriers Amelia Pacelli placed 4th overall with Esme Krige in 17th. 60 runners in the Year 7 Boys race which saw new member – E Russell-Blackburn finish in 16th place with Theo Addy coming home in 17th spot alongside fellow Blackburn Harriers Morgan Watson in 19th and Ryker Hanson in 31st spot.
Millie Jordan, recovering from illness over the previous weeks finished in 3rd spot in the Junior Girls race featuring 66 runners. Emily Wood came home in 19th spot followed in by Charlotte Smith in 23rd, Annie Heaps in 45th, Darcie Belshaw in 48th, Alexa Huntt in 49th, Isabelle Pawson (55th) and Niam Boland in 63rd spot. The Inter Boys race with 48 runners lining up saw the Harriers Henry Ward take 1st place in a fine run followerd in by fellow Harriers William Grundy on 3rd, Jack Wood in 5th, Theo Robinson (13th), Max Belshaw (14th), Loucas Lancashire 19th, Tom Falencki in 23rd, Liam Bennison in 33rd and Elliott Unsworth (41st).
Henry Ward (506) – William Grundy (481)
Thirty seven runners in the Inter-Girls race resulting in Lyra Krige getting one of the English Schools spots as she came home in 7th with Lottie Hesketh in 10th, Lily Green in 17th, Hannah Davies in 19th, Bella McCredie (22nd) and Eleanor Woodford in 29th. Blackburn Harriers Jack Baranowski finished off the day by winning the Junior Boys race – featuring 57 – with Oliver North crossing the line in 17th and Max Unthank in 31st.
Jack Baranowski (289)
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On to the road and this Sunday – February 2nd saw the holding of the annual Winter Warmer 10k which was preceded, as always, by a Junior 2k race featuring a 110 youngsters, including two from Blackburn Harriers. Amelia Pacelli finished 4th overall and 1st in her age category in a time of 8.20 and this after running at the Lancashire Schools Cross Country Championships the day before. Ava Shannon also ran, coming 5th in her age group and in a time of 11.52. (RESULTS)
In the main race – on a testing course – featuring five hundred and thirty four runners, it was a 1/2 for the Harriers as Paul Bradshaw took the win in a time of 35.54 with V50 Stephen Hall in 2nd place running 36.05, Paul also taking the 1st V35 prize and Stephen the 1st V50 prize. V40 Marco Pacelli had a good run too finishing 28th over all in a time of 40.38 and just two seconds behind in 29th place, came V55 Paul Guinan in a time of 40.40 and he too took 1st prize in his age category. (RESULTS)
L-R Stephen Hall – Paul Bradshaw – photo courtesy of Paul Guinan
Paul Bradshaw & Stephen Hall – Photo courtesy of Ian Clarkson
Paul Guinan – Photo courtesy of Ian Clarkson
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